Second chance a new choice

Downtime

Friday morning, Lily stood near the fireplace in the Gryffindor common room. The image of Remus holding that poor girl last night stuck in her mind. How long was he there after Sev and I left?

Slow footsteps thumped down the stairs to the boys' dorms.

Oh my. R e mus looks like he didn't get to sleep at all.

The other Marauders mobbed him before Remus made it all the way down to the common room.

"Where were you?" Sirius said, arms crossed.

"Were you helping Snape with something?" said James.

"What are you not telling us?" Peter murmured his question while looking at Remus' shoes.

Sorry, Remus...

Remus sneered and muttered, "I was helping a friend. I told you."

Lily sighed. Maybe I can rescue him. She approached the four boys and tapped Remus' shoulder. "Want to walk with me down to breakfast?"

"Please." Remus shook off his friends and joined her in leaving the common room.

The other Marauders' faces soured—especially James'—as if they'd all bitten lemons.

"How'd it go with Lucy yesterday?" said Lily once they were out in the hall. "Is she... all right?"

"Got her back to her common room." Remus rubbed the back of his neck, but whether he was nervous or merely tired, Lily couldn't tell. "She said she could go by herself, but I couldn't just leave her... It doesn't look like she has any friends."

"Well, she can come to the Life Defenders now, right? That's a place meant for making friends."

Remus nodded. "I'm spending the afternoon with her. I don't like the idea of her being alone."

"Want me to join you?"

"If you want, but I don't think it's a good idea to bring Severus... He might scare her." Remus smirked. "We're going to the border of the Forbidden Forest—to see if we can find some nifflers, so we have something to do other than talk. I got the impression she likes looking after magical creatures, and I know your boyfriend definitely doesn't enjoy things like that. It would just be rubbing salt on a sore, don't you think?"

Lily blushed. "I see what you mean. But I'm sure he wouldn't mind. Sometimes he's overprotective, but he understands I need to do things other than being with him all the time. Lucy's part creature, isn't she? What... kind?"

"Jotun," said Remus.

"Gesundheit."

Remus chuckled. "It's a species of troll—smaller than the average British troll—more human-sized. Lives mostly on ice-land. She... doesn't like to bring it up. I guess being a troll has a bad connotation, huh?"

"Yeah... Potter and Black teased Severus for years just because of his big nose. Troll is kind of..." Lily chewed her bottom lip.

"Unfortunate," Remus finished.

Lily headed for her usual spot at the Hufflepuff table where Severus already waited for her. "Oh..." She turned to Remus. "I don't think your friends will be too happy if you sit with us instead of them. No need to cause yourself any trouble."

Remus rubbed tired eyes and yawned. "Right now, I don't care a whit. I'm so tired of constant questions. Some breathing room would be nice." The dark circles under his eyes echoed his exhaustion. "They'll come around by Monday."